NEWS: The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart @ Riverside

TPOBPAH make music with a sincerity and heart that others of the ilk often lack

By NARC.
on Wednesday, May 24th, 2017

Image by Shervin Lainez

As well as being one of those bands with a ridiculously long abbreviation, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (or TPOBPAH) have been stalwarts of jangly indie pop and shoegaze for almost a decade now. Their debut is considered a cult classic by fans and critics alike, alluding to bands like My Bloody Valentine in its unrestrained noisiness, whilst remaining fully accessible to lovers of authentic pop music.

Singer and principle songwriter Kip Berman has been consistent in his musical vision, guiding the group’s three full-length albums with the utmost care and attention to detail. The New Yorker’s second effort Belong was a more refined work than their debut, throwing all of Berman’s influences into a melting pot of post-grunge guitar riffs and big choruses. 2014’s Days of Abandon meanwhile was a welcome return, channeling the likes of New Order, The Cure, and Interpol in its ten rounded tracks, peaking with the catchy Massokissed and twee, modest genius of lead single Simple and Sure.

TPOBPAH make music with a sincerity and heart that others of the ilk often lack. Their live shows are renowned for being joyous and uplifting affairs that can get a little sweaty too. With their fourth album expected in the summer, the band are heading out on tour and will be stopping at Newcastle’s Riverside on Saturday the 27th of May for a night of pure indie pop splendor.